"Alpha Zain!" Someone called over the pack link. Zain tuned in and deduced the location of the security beta. He heard the wolf's hooves pounding the earth powerfully as he raced towards them. When he emerged from the bush, he transformed into a human and bowed his head to his alpha.
"Carl? What's wrong?"
"We found a corpse." Carl's eyes dimmed. "It's one of us."
Zain fisted his hands. Everyone else who had been on the hunt was accounted for so this new corpse must have been out for a night run. He hated that he had lost three of his pack members in one night. The council would have a lot to say in the next council meeting which was the very next day. Maybe he was cursed indeed.
***
As was customary, everyone in the pack house donned a black outfit to commemorate the souls that had been lost especially those that had perished honorably during the hunt. Alyssa, as Luna, led the females to the wall on the ground floor where the names of pack members were scribbled. With a red marker, she struck off the names of those that were freshly dead and blew off the candles representing their souls.
Her eyes temporarily lingered on Nyla Stark's crossed out name and a warm sense of relief bloomed in her heart. She schooled her face once more to emote grief before returning to stand by the alpha's side. Together, all the pack chanted the names of the newly dead on the wall.
"Never forget their names." Zain uttered.
"Never forget their names." The pack repeated. Zain turned to face his members.
"May this be our last dark cloak ceremony for a long while."
"Amen, alpha." They chanted in unison.
Alyssa supervised as the meat from the hunt-well cooked and flavorful-was served to everyone. After the meals, Zain steered the council members to the sitting area and had the other pack members cleared out except his Luna. Tension worked its way up his spine but the alpha was prepared for the worst.
"I deeply apologize for failing to keep my promise to protect everyone during the hunt. As you know, hunting is part of our nature as wolves and tradition as a pack. Our skills out there were getting rusty and that was the only reason I lifted the ban on the hunt to sharpen our skills. I carefully mapped out a safe hunting strategy to ensure everyone's safety but due to the disobedience of one of our own, things spiraled out of control. Hence, we shall begin today's meeting by deciding a befitting punishment for Rodney Stiles."
Alyssa's father, a well-respected elderly werewolf with an impressive history of advising alphas past, cleared his throat. He made Zain nervous because whatever the old man led with would determine the tenor of the meeting. Everyone regarded his counsel as wise and seldom deviated from it.
"Alpha, I understand the promise you made before the hunt. I am also aware that there are very few records in werewolf archives of hunting activities that resulted in catching games without any iota of injuries or even death of at least a member, irrespective of how formidable the pack is. What I am trying to say is that accidents and casualties are a natural consequence of hunting activities."
"Mr. Lenore…"
"If you'd let me finish, alpha Zain."
Zain felt Alyssa's hand over his and let the man finish.
"If we are to hang blames here, then it is only proper that we begin with the alpha who took a bunch of his pack members on a hunting expedition knowing fully well that their skills were rusty. See why the blame game won't get us far? Rodney might be something of a hothead but his intentions were pure. If not for his dedication to achieving the goal of the hunt, you all would have returned empty-handed and the two boys might have died all the same. It is my suggestion that we focus on a person's intentions for doing a thing rather than the mistakes that ultimately resulted from it."
Zain was shocked to see others nodding in agreement.
"Are you kidding me, Mr. Lenore?" If he didn't know any better, he would have assumed that his father-in-law was in cahoots with Rodney to usurp him. "Rodney defied MY orders, acted rashly leading to the death of two innocent young boys. This isn't the first time and you sit there making excuses for him?" He whipped his head to find Ted's father who had a sour expression on his face. "Mr. Hale, do you also agree that the man who caused your son's death be pardoned?"
Mr. Hale exhaled deeply. "From what I hear, my son gave up his life willingly at his alpha's hand."
Zain was slightly taken aback by the insinuation.
"You consider me your son's killer?"
"I consider you his savior for granting him a quick and honorable death, alpha Zain. That is why I agree with Mr. Lenore. There are other sides to a story. I could easily hold you accountable for Ted's death but knowing how it happened and the ultimate good it did for him, I am appeased. Rodney mustn't have set out to defy you. He wanted to do it for his pack. We ought to reward bravery, not punish it."
"Yes, alpha." Another member echoed. "The death wall is filling up. Our numbers are dwindling. We have to figure out a way to remain formidable before our enemies deem us weak enough to be attacked. Now is not the time for a power tussle. No one is after your position."
"They're silently mocking me." Zain told Ark. "Look at them. I'm sure they only blame me for everything. Rodney is their golden alpha material so they'll say all kinds of crap to defend him. Why can't they stand up for me like this?"
"It wasn't always like this with Rodney. He was despised when he first joined our pack, remember? He worked his way up and won hearts, including yours. Don't let them get to you, alpha. Keep your head high and rule with confidence. They're testing you. If you never show weakness, they'll gradually realize you are a born leader and stop doubting you."
"I have heard all of you. I do see the merits in your perspectives. However, Rodney Stiles will be taught a lesson on the consequences of going against his alpha. It's one thing to doubt your alpha's judgment behind his back but doing so in front me will never go unpunished." He paused to survey his audience with furrowed brows. He was sending a message to the everyone that questioned his competence as alpha.
"Rodney Stiles is hereby demoted one rank lower than he currently occupies for the next one month. This is my kindness to him seeing as the parents of the victims hold no grudges against him. I would personally have preferred to rip his heart out right there in that forest." Faces crumpled with fear as he continued. "The next person to question or defy me won't be so lucky."
A sudden chill hovered in the air. Everyone avoided the alpha's glowing red eyes.
"Zain, fear is A WAY, not the ONLY WAY. You must show wisdom as well as strength. Focus." Ark chided him. Zain took deep breaths and calmed his nerves.
"I do agree that our pack has been going through a series of challenges owing to the curse on my wolf." He got on his feet with his hands tucked behind his back. "I hear the rumors. Alpha Zain plunged us into this darkness after he took over from his father. He is cursed! Of course, I am but I was never like this before. My wolf was never bound until I angered my betrothed, Nyla Starks on the advice of my wise council, spearheaded by the beloved Mr. Lenore. I was advised to marry his daughter instead." He finished, pointing at Alyssa. "I betrayed the most powerful witch in our community on your guidance because I was pressured to believe that it was in the best interest of our pack. What did you all think would happen? Nyla punished me for my betrayal. I have been suffering for putting MY PEOPLE FIRST and what do I get? Gossip. Zero votes of confidence even from the same council members that caused everything."
"Zain, please…"
He gave Alyssa a searing look that froze her in her seat and shut her up. Tacitly, Mr. Lenore warned his daughter not to interfere.
"Did you all forget or is it just easier to call me incompetent? Huh, Lord Dane? Mr. Fallon? Mr. Lenore? Did you all forget that impromptu meeting we had in my bedroom about me making hasty changes to my succession plan?"
"Forgive me alpha…" Mr. Lenore began with a bowed head. "I simply want to remind you that we are your inner council members and by definition, it's our responsibility to raise concerns and give advice on matters that ail the pack. Forgive us if our devotion to our duty has come across as lack of faith in your leadership. We mean no harm."
Zain chuckled dryly as rage sizzled. Bunch of liars, he thought.
"I mean no disrespect either. I was just stating true facts and if you all feel personally attacked, you should check with your conscience." He returns to his special seat with a big smile. "Let's end this on a good note, shall we? I have great news. Things are about to change for the better around here. It just so happens that the moon goddess has a great sense of humor and has given me a second chance to fix things."
Alyssa's widened eyes found her father's perplexed ones but he was too engrossed in the alpha's words.
"The one responsible for binding my wolf has returned!"
Shocked gasps echo round the room.
"Yes. Nyla is alive. I found her. She'll undo the curse on my wolf and set our pack on the cusp of greatness again."
Alyssa's throat clogged as she panted for air. Somewhere down the hall, a tray clatters to the floor. When everyone looked, it was Rumi, Nyla's longest serving hand maid and best friend. Rumi dropped to her knees with watery eyes. Zain jumped to his feet and shuffled to her. He lifted her up.
"Yes, Rumi. Your best friend is alive and will be joining us shortly." He wiped her tears with his hands. "Go to the Death wall. Do the honors."
While everyone watched, Rumi walked unsteadily to the wall and wiped off the red stroke across Nyla's name, indicating she was alive.
Isla watched from the first floor, her heart clenching just from the simple act. She hoped she was right about the wraith not posing a danger to their pack and helping Ark. She hoped the wraith, who seemed clueless but not spineless, would be easy to manipulate. Just last night at the forest, Isla had almost been certain this would be an easy task.
Now, that certainty flickered like a dying light bulb. Anxious, she tried to return to her room and accidentally cut herself on the railing. Red blood spilled from her wrist to the tiled floor. A bad omen.
Was she just bringing a fake Nyla Stark to fall ridge pack or more death and destruction?